on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

He could very well be less than healthy, but to that I say he shouldn't have returned if he was still hurting. The team was on a huge winning streak, so he could've taken more time to get himself closer to 100%.

There seems to be a complex where any time someone calls a Penguin out for poor play, people immediately jump in with the "well he's obviously hurt" or "he's not 100%" excuse. The same thing was said about Orpik over the past few years and no people are asking "wow, how did he drop off so fast?" - the answer is, he didn't... he's been in declined over the past few seasons. I mean, if you look at Malkin's seasons since winning the Cup and Conn Smythe, this is what you get:

2009-10 - 77 points in 67 games (94 point pace)2010-11 - 37 points in 43 games (71 point pace)2011-12 - 109 points in 75 games (119 point pace)2012-13 - 27 points in 26 games (85 point pace)

Taking that into consideration, it's more likely that last season was an "off year" rather than this one. So has he been constantly hurt in those other 3 seasons or is there something else going on?

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

He could very well be less than healthy, but to that I say he shouldn't have returned if he was still hurting. The team was on a huge winning streak, so he could've taken more time to get himself closer to 100%.

There seems to be a complex where any time someone calls a Penguin out for poor play, people immediately jump in with the "well he's obviously hurt" or "he's not 100%" excuse. The same thing was said about Orpik over the past few years and no people are asking "wow, how did he drop off so fast?" - the answer is, he didn't... he's been in declined over the past few seasons. I mean, if you look at Malkin's seasons since winning the Cup and Conn Smythe, this is what you get:

2009-10 - 77 points in 67 games (94 point pace)2010-11 - 37 points in 43 games (71 point pace)2011-12 - 109 points in 75 games (119 point pace)2012-13 - 27 points in 26 games (85 point pace)

Taking that into consideration, it's more likely that last season was an "off year" rather than this one. So has he been constantly hurt in those other 3 seasons or is there something else going on?

4 great seasons of during 3 there's a case for calling him best in the world1 good season (scoring pace 94 points)1 sub par season (scoring pace of 85 (this year, not rookie year) points)1 poor season (scoring pace 71 points)

Yes, it was all a fluke.

I think the injury signs were clearly there in 10/11 and now as well.

That said two sup par years out of three and his current equal strength production is cause for concern no matter how you slize it, but the "this is his true himself" posts are just silly.

Last edited by André on Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

He could very well be less than healthy, but to that I say he shouldn't have returned if he was still hurting. The team was on a huge winning streak, so he could've taken more time to get himself closer to 100%.

There seems to be a complex where any time someone calls a Penguin out for poor play, people immediately jump in with the "well he's obviously hurt" or "he's not 100%" excuse. The same thing was said about Orpik over the past few years and no people are asking "wow, how did he drop off so fast?" - the answer is, he didn't... he's been in declined over the past few seasons. I mean, if you look at Malkin's seasons since winning the Cup and Conn Smythe, this is what you get:

2009-10 - 77 points in 67 games (94 point pace)2010-11 - 37 points in 43 games (71 point pace)2011-12 - 109 points in 75 games (119 point pace)2012-13 - 27 points in 26 games (85 point pace)

Taking that into consideration, it's more likely that last season was an "off year" rather than this one. So has he been constantly hurt in those other 3 seasons or is there something else going on?

Last season his wingers were Kunitz and Neal very consistently for the majority of the season. This season his wingers have been something less and very inconsistent. I think what I just typed is true.. If it's true then it's a reasonable explanation.

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

He could very well be less than healthy, but to that I say he shouldn't have returned if he was still hurting. The team was on a huge winning streak, so he could've taken more time to get himself closer to 100%.

There seems to be a complex where any time someone calls a Penguin out for poor play, people immediately jump in with the "well he's obviously hurt" or "he's not 100%" excuse. The same thing was said about Orpik over the past few years and no people are asking "wow, how did he drop off so fast?" - the answer is, he didn't... he's been in declined over the past few seasons. I mean, if you look at Malkin's seasons since winning the Cup and Conn Smythe, this is what you get:

2009-10 - 77 points in 67 games (94 point pace)2010-11 - 37 points in 43 games (71 point pace)2011-12 - 109 points in 75 games (119 point pace)2012-13 - 27 points in 26 games (85 point pace)

Taking that into consideration, it's more likely that last season was an "off year" rather than this one. So has he been constantly hurt in those other 3 seasons or is there something else going on?

Last season his wingers were Kunitz and Neal very consistently for the majority of the season. This season his wingers have been something less and very inconsistent. I think what I just typed is true.. If it's true then it's a reasonable explanation.

Yeah but then you can always throw in the fact that he centered Fedotenko and Talbot during his best year. Linemates matter of course but Geno's production is mainly up to Geno I'd say.

shmenguin wrote:on one hand, i'm not sure how malkin's skating could suck so bad if he was healthy right now.

on the other hand, this is the bajillionth time i've thought, "malkin must be hurt if he's playing like this". and this may end up being the bajillionth time where there is no statement from the team confirming that theory.

He could very well be less than healthy, but to that I say he shouldn't have returned if he was still hurting. The team was on a huge winning streak, so he could've taken more time to get himself closer to 100%.

There seems to be a complex where any time someone calls a Penguin out for poor play, people immediately jump in with the "well he's obviously hurt" or "he's not 100%" excuse. The same thing was said about Orpik over the past few years and no people are asking "wow, how did he drop off so fast?" - the answer is, he didn't... he's been in declined over the past few seasons. I mean, if you look at Malkin's seasons since winning the Cup and Conn Smythe, this is what you get:

2009-10 - 77 points in 67 games (94 point pace)2010-11 - 37 points in 43 games (71 point pace)2011-12 - 109 points in 75 games (119 point pace)2012-13 - 27 points in 26 games (85 point pace)

Taking that into consideration, it's more likely that last season was an "off year" rather than this one. So has he been constantly hurt in those other 3 seasons or is there something else going on?

4 great seasons of during 3 there's a case for calling him best in the world1 good season (scoring pace 94 points)1 sub par season (scoring pace of 85 (this year, not rookie year) points)1 poor season (scoring pace 71 points)

Yes, it was all a fluke.

I think the injury signs were clearly there in 10/11 and now as well.

That said two sup par years out of three and his current equal strength production is cause for concern no matter how you slize it, but the "this is his true himself" posts are just silly.

I don't think it's his true self either, I'm just wondering if there are any other factors in it. My main concern is that he's almost certainly going to cash in with a $10-11M AAV in his next contract, but if his production remains erratic it could really hurt the team, especially early on before the cap has a chance to open up.

He's a streaky player, so perhaps he's just had more "on" time during his great seasons compared to the others. I haven't looked at the numbers, but it's certainly a possibility.

tfrizz wrote:My main concern is that he's almost certainly going to cash in with a $10-11M AAV in his next contract, but if his production remains erratic it could really hurt the team, especially early on before the cap has a chance to open up.

Whoa now. "Almost certainly"?! Now that's bold. I don't see that happening at all.

The that-star-will-get-close-to-max concern hasn't been close to true since Ovy's 9.7 deal. It's always exaggerated. No way Geno asks for more than Sid. I can see him taking less, I really can (altough market wise that'd be "wrong", as Sid with a huge discount "forces" Geno to a smaller but yet a discount).

tfrizz wrote:My main concern is that he's almost certainly going to cash in with a $10-11M AAV in his next contract, but if his production remains erratic it could really hurt the team, especially early on before the cap has a chance to open up.

Whoa now. "Almost certainly"?! Now that's bold. I don't see that happening at all.

The that-star-will-get-close-to-max concern hasn't been close to true since Ovy's 9.7 deal. It's always exaggerated. No way Geno asks for more than Sid. I can see him taking less, I really can (altough market wise that'd be "wrong", as Sid with a huge discount "forces" Geno to a smaller but yet a discount).

Almost everyone else in the hockey world sees that happening. I'm not sure why him posting about it would suddenly surprise you.

tfrizz wrote:My main concern is that he's almost certainly going to cash in with a $10-11M AAV in his next contract, but if his production remains erratic it could really hurt the team, especially early on before the cap has a chance to open up.

Whoa now. "Almost certainly"?! Now that's bold. I don't see that happening at all.

The that-star-will-get-close-to-max concern hasn't been close to true since Ovy's 9.7 deal. It's always exaggerated. No way Geno asks for more than Sid. I can see him taking less, I really can (altough market wise that'd be "wrong", as Sid with a huge discount "forces" Geno to a smaller but yet a discount).

Deals like Anaheim throwing over $8-million per year at Getzlaf & Perry despite their 57 and 60 point seasons (respectively) last year, and Carolina giving Semin $7-million per year, are going to force Malkin's hand. The NHLPA was reportedly quite unhappy at Crosby taking $8.7-million per year again, so the pressure on Malkin to take more is going to be immense.

Between that pressure from the NHLPA and the pressure sure to come from his agent, it could be a win just to get him down around $10-million per year.

tfrizz wrote:My main concern is that he's almost certainly going to cash in with a $10-11M AAV in his next contract, but if his production remains erratic it could really hurt the team, especially early on before the cap has a chance to open up.

Whoa now. "Almost certainly"?! Now that's bold. I don't see that happening at all.

The that-star-will-get-close-to-max concern hasn't been close to true since Ovy's 9.7 deal. It's always exaggerated. No way Geno asks for more than Sid. I can see him taking less, I really can (altough market wise that'd be "wrong", as Sid with a huge discount "forces" Geno to a smaller but yet a discount).

Deals like Anaheim throwing over $8-million per year at Getzlaf & Perry despite their 57 and 60 point seasons (respectively) last year, and Carolina giving Semin $7-million per year, are going to force Malkin's hand. The NHLPA was reportedly quite unhappy at Crosby taking $8.7-million per year again, so the pressure on Malkin to take more is going to be immense.

Between that pressure from the NHLPA and the pressure sure to come from his agent, it could be a win just to get him down around $10-million per year.

Malkin lives in Moscow because he can easily get lost in Russia's capital, which is home to about 11.5 million. Magnitogorsk, where his parents and brother, Denis, still live, is a city of about 407,000.“He never wants to be the biggest man in town,” said Gonchar, who shares a floor of an apartment complex with Malkin in Moscow.

eh I don't think Malkin has a problem being number 1. I think he enjoys Pittsburgh and its fans as well as the guys in the locker room. Look at his acceptance speech in the locker room when Adams gave him the mini-trophies and portraits.